Song of Bernadette, The Musical

MAGONE HOME Aftercare Program

The Salesian Philippine South Province designed an intensive aftercare treatment to a child in conflict with the law (CICL) after he has undergone rehabilitation in a CICL facility like the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY), a youth home like the Cebu City Operation Second Chance Center (OSC) or is undergoing community diversion in his area of residence with the end goal of preparing him for independent living and facilitating his smooth reintegration into society. This aftercare program It is a pilot initiative of the Salesians in 2010 and is currently moving on to his second phase of implementation.

The Magone Home Aftercare Program (MHAP) is named after a young lad called Michael “Mickey” Magone (1845-1859), who roamed the streets of Carmagnola, Italy and at 12 years old became the leader of a gang known as Carmagnola Boys. As the gangster head, he was nicknamed “The General.” St. John Bosco, then simply called Fr. Bosco or Don Bosco (1815-1888), chanced upon him and his gang noisily playing in the tram station one dark, cold, foggy evening in the autumn of 1857. While all the others ran away when Don Bosco approached them, Mickey stood up to him and demanded haughtily why he had to interfere in their games. This encounter began Mickey’s invitation to Don Bosco’s school at the oratory. In the original account of Fr. Francesco Alberto Ariccio (1819-1884) to Don Bosco about Mickey Magone, he wrote, “Mickey Magone has no father, he is poor and abandoned. He spends his time with the street boys. His mother works all day to make ends meet. He has a good heart but is very difficult to tame. He has been dismissed from the local school. Two of his companions are in prison. He may land there too.”[1]

The months following Mickey’s stay in the oratory saw his transformation from a street-smart, idle, defiant young lad into one who found joy in his studies, performances, and chores. Mickey, with his leadership skills, quick mind, and innate goodness made a profound influence on the other boys in the oratory and they fondly call him“General Mickey.” Mickey, however, did not live long – he breathed his last when he as 13 years, 4 months, and 2 days old. On the night Mickey died, Don Bosco wrote a remark by his name, “Died at the Oratory on the night of January 21, 1859. A most promising lad. Deeply mourned by all. A model for all youth to imitate.”[2]

The Aftercare Program is mainly delivered in-house in a 24/7 set-up that runs the whole gamut of case management services. In-house, the CICL is under the care and supervision of the MHAP multi-disciplinary team (MDT). It is likewise run in-community where the CICL initially stays at home, directly under the supervision of the Local Government Unit (LGU) Social Worker, and the MHAP Community Social Worker. When fully prepared and motivated for MHAP living, the CICL under community diversion stays at the MHAP facility for the full delivery of case management services adapted to his needs. The program follows a 4-phase design that runs over a two-year implementation.

Since 2010, Magone has helped 119 beneficiaries who are mostly reintegrated to families or to the communities.